Update on recent Baker School Board meeting from Superintendent Mark Witty
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (EMG) Thank you for joining me, Mr. Witty. There was a school board meeting last week. Would you please share some highlights with us?
(MW) Thanks for having me, Shannon.
We started out the meeting by recognizing three Promise Students of the Month: Gauge Bloomer from BTI, Emma Burgess from Eagle Cap Innovative Jr/Sr High School, and Kayson Crowther from Baker Virtual Academy.
We also recognized Baker Relief Nursery as an Outstanding Community Partner. Their hard work helping rural children and families to be safe and successful, and empowering parents to be their best selves, is invaluable to our community.
We also got to share some good news with the board about the financial health of the District.
A CPA representative from Eide Bailly, who just concluded our latest District audit, presented an audit review to the board. Once again, no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or noncompliance were identified; and the District received the highest assurance provided. A copy of the Financial Statements from the auditor can be found on our website at baker5j.org under the Business Office department.
(EMG) That’s really great news. Were there any other highlights from the meeting that you’d like to pass along?
(MW) We have some exciting things happening with our Oregon International School. We currently have two students in Baker City visiting from France on exchange, and agreements are falling into place to allow exchange between sister schools and countries around the globe. We are excited to foster these relationships and offer these experiences to our local students and families.
We still need families interested in hosting international students in Baker City. Especially those who may want to host a student similar in age to their own, which could result in a reciprocal exchange for their own family.
The board also discussed the lifting of the indoor mask rule and pause of contact tracing and quarantine tomorrow, Saturday, March 12. Locally, we will follow these statewide shifts. Face coverings will become optional in our schools on Monday, March 14, though we will continue morning health screenings and enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols.
We will also continue to support and provide masks for those who choose to wear them.
It will be critical that those experiencing symptoms of illness continue to stay home so that we can keep our schools open to in-person learning and extra-curriculars.
(EMG) Thanks you for all the updates and information and for joining me today.
Keep up to date on what is happening at the Baker School District on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/baker5j or online at https://www.baker5j.org/
